Thenthereweresolemncabinetsheld，atwhichshepresided，andMrsFinnandLocockassisted。Atothercabinetsitissupposedthat，letaleaderbeeversoautocraticbydispositionandsuperiorbyintelligence，stillhemustnotunfrequentlyyieldtotheopinionofhiscolleagues。ButinthiscabinettheDuchessalwayshadherownway，thoughshewasverypersistentinaskingforcounsel。Locockwasfrightenedaboutthemoney。Hithertomoneyhadcomewithoutaword，outofthecommon，spokentotheDuke。TheDukehadalwayssignedcertaincheques，buttheyhadbeennormalcheques，andthemoneyinitsnaturalcoursehadflownintomeetthem——butnowhemustbeaskedtosignabnormalcheques。That，indeed，hadalreadybeendone。butstillthemoneyhadbeenthere。Alargebalance，suchashadalwaysstoodtohiscredit，wouldstandabiggerracketthanhadyetbeenmade。ButLocockwassurethatthebalanceoughtnottobemuchfurtherreduced，——andthatstepsmustbetaken。Somethingmustbesold！TheideaofsellinganythingwasdreadfultothemindofLocock！Orelsemoneymustbeborrowed！NowthemanagementofthePalliserpropertyhadalwaysbeenconductedonprinciplesantagonistictoborrowing。’ButhisGracehasneverspenthisincome，’saidtheDuchess。Thatwastrue。Butthemoney，asitshowedatendencytoheapitselfup，hadbeenusedforthepurchaseofotherbitsofproperty，orfortheameliorationoftheestatesgenerally。’Youdon’tmeantosaythatwecan’tgetmoneyifwewantit！’Locockwasprofuseinhisassurancethatanyamountofmoneycouldbeobtained，——onlythatsomethinghadtobedone。’Thenletsomethingbedone，’
saidtheDuchess，goingonwithhergeneralplans。’Manypeoplearerich，’saidtheDuchessafterwardstoherfriend，’andsomepeopleareveryrichindeed。butnobodyseemstoberichenoughtohavereadymoneytodojustwhathewishes。Itallgoesintoagrandsumtotal，whichisnevertobetouchedwithoutafeelingofsacrifice。Isupposeyouhavealwaysenoughforanything。’
ItwaswellknownthatthepresentMrsFinn，asMadameGoesler，hadbeenawealthywoman。
’Indeed，no，——veryfarfromthat。Ihaven’tashilling。’
’Whathashappened？’askedtheDuchess，pretendingtobefrightened。
’YouforgetthatI’vegotahusbandofmyown，andthathehastobeconsulted。’
’Thatmustbenonsense。Butdon’tyouthinkwomenarefoolstomarrywhenthey’vegotanythingoftheirown，andcouldbetheirownmistresses？Icouldn’thavebeen。IwasmadetomarrybeforeIwasoldenoughtoassertmyself。’
’Andhowwelltheydidforyou！’
’Passimal——He’sPrimeMinister，whichisagreatthing，andI
begintofindmyselffilledtothefullwithpoliticalambition。
IfeelmyselftobeaLadyMacbeth，preparedforthemurderofanyDuncanoranyDaubneywhomaystandinmylord’sway。Inthemeantime，likeLadyMacbethherself，wemustattendtothebanquetings。’Herlordappearedandmisbehavedhimself。mylordwon’tshowhimselfatall，——whichIthinkisworse。’
OuroldfriendPhineasFinn，whohadnowreachedahigherplaceinpoliticsthanevenhispoliticaldreamshadassignedtohim，thoughhewasaMemberofParliament，wasmuchawayfromLondoninthesedays。Newbroomssweepclean。andofficialnewbrooms，Ithink，sweepcleanerthananyother。WhohasnotwatchedatthecommencementofaMinistrysomeSecretary，someLord，orsomeCommissioner，whointendsbyfreshHerculeanlabourstocleansetheAugeanstablesjustcommittedtohiscare？WhodoesnotknowthegentlemanattheHomeOffice，whomeanstoreformthepoliceandputanendtomalefactors。orthenewMinisterattheBoardofWorks，whoistomakeLondonbeautifulasbyamagician’sstroke，——or，aboveall，thenewFirstLord，whoisresolvedthathewillreallybuildafleet，purgethedockyards，andsaveushalfamillionayearatthesametime？PhineasFinnwasbentonunriddlingtheIrishsphinx。SurelysomethingmightbedonetoprovetohissusceptiblecountrymenthatatthepresentmomentnocursecouldbelaiduponthemsoheavyasthatofhavingtorulethemselvesapartfromEngland。andhethoughtthatthismightbeeasier，ashebecamefromdaytodaymorethoroughlyconvincedthatthoseHomeRulerswhowereallaroundhimintheHousewerealtogetherofthesameopinion。Hadsomeinscrutabledecreeoffateordainedandmadeitcertain，——withacertaintynottobedisturbed，——thatnocandidatewouldbereturnedtoParliamentwhowouldnotasserttheearthtobetriangular，therewouldriseimmediatelyaclamorousassertionoftriangularityamongpoliticalaspirants。Thetestwouldbeinnocent。Candidateshaveswallowed，anddailydoswallow，manyaworseone。Asmightbethisdoctrineofagreattriangle，soisthedoctrineofHomeRule。WhyisagentlemanofpropertytobekeptoutinthecoldbysomeO’Mullinsbecausehewillnotmutteranunmeaningshibboleth？’Triangular？Yes，——orlozenge-shaped，ifyouplease。but，gentlemen，IamthemanforTipperary。’PhineasFinn，havingseen，orthoughtthathehadseen，allthis，began，fromtheveryfirstmomentofhisappointment，toconsiderpainfullywithinhimselfwhetherthegenuineservicesofanhonestandpatrioticmanmightcompasssomeremedyforthepresentill-bodingfermentofthecountry。WhatwasinitthattheIrishreallydidwant——whatthattheywanted，andhadnotgot，andwhichmightwithproprietybeconcededtothem？WhatwasitthattheEnglishreallywouldrefusetosanction，eventhoughitmightnotbewanted？HefoundhimselfbeatingaboutamongtherocksastoCatholiceducationandPapalinterference，thepassageamongwhichmightbemadeclearertohiminIrishatmospherethaninthatofWestminster。Therehewasawayagooddealinthesedays，travellingbackwardsandforwardsashemightbewantedforanydebate。Butashiswifedidnotaccompanyhimonthesefitfuljourneys，shewasabletogivehertimeverymuchtotheDuchess。
TheDuchesswasonthewholeverysuccessfulwithherparties。
Therewerepeoplewhocomplainedthatshehadeverybody。thattherewasnoselectionwhateverastopolitics，principles，rank，morals，——orevenmanners。ButinsuchaworkastheDuchesshasnowtakeninhand，itwasimpossiblethatsheshouldescapecensure。Theywhoreallyknewwhatwasbeingdonewereawarethatnobodywasaskedtothathousewithoutanideathathisorherpresencemightbedesirable，——inhoweverremoteadegree。
Paragraphsinnewspapersgoformuch，andthereforethewritersandeditorsofsuchparagraphswerethere，——sometimeswiththeirwives。MrBroune，oftheBreakfastTable，wastobeseenthereconstantly，withhiswifeLadyCarbury，andpooroldBookeroftheLiteraryChronicle。Citymencanmakeabudgetpopularorthereverse，andthereforetheMillsHappertonsofthedaywerewelcome。RisingbarristersmightbewantedtobecomeSolicitors-
General。ThepetOrpheusofthehour，theyoungtragicactorwhowasthoughttohavearealHamletwithinhim，theoldpainterwhowassillstrongwithhope，eventhelittletrillingpoet，thoughhetrilledneversofaintly，andthesomewhatwoodennovelist，allhadtonguesoftheirown，andcertainmodesofexpression，whichmightassistorinjurethePalliserCoalition，——astheDuke’sMinistrywasnowcalled。
’Whoisthatman？I’veseenhimherebefore。TheDuchesswastalkingtohimeversolongjustnow。’ThequestionwasaskedbyMrRattlerofMrRoby。Abouthalf-an-hourbeforethistimeMrRattlerhadessayedtogetafewwordswiththeDuchess，beginningwiththecommunicationofsomesmallpoliticalsecret。
ButtheDuchessdidnotcaremuchfortheRattlersattachedtoherhusband’sGovernment。Theyweremenwhoseservicescouldbehadforacertainpayment，——andwhenpaidforwere，theDuchessthought，atthePremier’scommandwithoutfurthertrouble。Ofcoursetheycametothereceptions，andwereentitledtoasmileapiecewhentheyentered。Buttheywereentitledtonothingmore，andonthisoccasion，Rattlerhadfelthimselftobesnubbed。ItdidnotoccurtohimtoabusetheDuchess。TheDuchesswastoonecessaryforabuse，——justatpresent。ButanyfriendoftheDuchess，——andfavouriteforthemoment，——wasofcourseopentoremark。
’HeisamannamedLopez，’saidRoby，’afriendofHapperton——averycleverfellowtheysay。’
’Didyoueverseehimanywhereelse？’
’Well，yes，——Ihavemethimatdinner。’
’HewasneverintheHouse。Whatdoeshedo？’Rattlerwasdistressedtothinkthatanydroneshouldhavemadeitwayintothehiveofworkingbees。’
’Oh——money，Ifancy。’
’He’snotapartneratHunky’s，ishe？’
’Ifancynot。IthinkIshouldhaveknownifhewas。’
’Sheoughttorememberthatpeoplemakeuseofcominghere，’saidRattler。Shewas，ofcourse，theDuchess。’It’snotlikeaprivatehouse。Andwhateverinfluenceoutsidersgetbycoming，somuchsheloses。Somebodyoughttoexplainthattoher。’
’Idon’tthinkyouorIcoulddothat，’repliedMrRoby。
’I’lltelltheDukeinaminute，’saidRattler。PerhapshethoughthecouldtelltheDuke，butwemaybeallowedtodoubtwhetherhisprowesswouldnothavefallenbelowthenecessarypitchwhenhemettheDuke’seye。
Lopezwasthereforthethirdtime，aboutthemiddleofJune，andhadcertainlycontrivedtomakehimselfpersonallyknowntotheDuchess。TherehadbeenadeputationfromtheCitytothePrimeMinisteraskingforasubsidizedmail，viaSanFrancisco，toJapan。AndLopez，thoughhehadnointerestinJapan，hadcontrivedtobeoneofthenumber。Hehadcontrivedalso，asthedeputationwasdeparting，tosayawordonhisownaccounttotheMinister，andhadingratiatedhimself。TheDukehadrememberedhim，andhadsuggestedthatheshouldhaveacard。Andnowhewasamongtheflowersandthegreatness，thebeauty，thepolitics，andthefashionoftheDuchess’sgatheringsforthethirdtime。’Itisverywelldone，——verywell，indeed，’saidMrBoffintohim。LopezhadbeendiningwithMrandMrsBoffin，andhadnowagainencounteredhislatehostandhostess。MrBoffinwasagentlemanwhohadbelongedtothelateMinistry，buthadsomewhatout-HerodedHerodinhisConservatism，soastohavebeenconsideredtobeunfitfortheCoalition。Ofcourse，hewasproudofhisownstaunchness，andalittleinclinedtocriticizethelaxprinciplesofmenwho，forthesakeofcarryingonherMajesty’sGovernment，couldbeConservativesonedayandLiberalsthenext。Hewasalabourious，honestman，——buthardlyofcalibresufficientnottoregrethisownhonestyinsuchanemergencyasthepresent。Itiseasyformostofustokeepourhandsfrompickingandstealingwhenpickingandstealingplainlyleadtoprisondietandprisongarments。Butwhensilksandsatinscomeofit，andwiththesilksandsatinsgeneralrespect，thenetresultofhonestydoesnotseemtobesosecure。Whencewillcomethereward，andwhen？Onwhomthepunishment，andwhere？Amanwillnot，surely，bedamnedforbelongingtoaCoalitionMinistry？Boffinwasalittlepuzzledashethoughtonallthis，butinthemeantimewasveryproudofhisownconstancy。
’Ithinkitsolovely，’saidMrsBoffin。’YoulookdownthroughanElysiumofrhododendronsintoaParadiseofmirrors。Idon’tthinktherewasanythinglikeitinLondonbefore。’
’Idon’tknowthatweeverhadanybodyatthesametime，richenoughtodothiskindofthingasitisdonenow，’saidBoffin，’andpowerfulenoughtogetsuchpeopletogether。Ifthecountrycanberuledbyflowersandlooking-glasses，ofcourseitisverywell。’
’Flowersandlooking-glasseswon’tpreventthecountrybeingruledwell，’saidLopez。
’I’mnotsosureofthat，’continuedBoffin。’WeallknowwhatthebreadandgamescametoinRome。’
’Whatdidtheycometo？’askedMrsBoffin。
’ToamanburninginRome，mydear，forhisamusement，dressedinasatinpetticoatandawreathofroses。’
’Idon’tthinktheDukewilldresshimselflikethat，’saidMrsBoffin。
’AndIdon’tthink，’saidLopez，’thatthegracefulexpenditureofwealthinarichman’shousehasanytendencytodemoralizethepeople。’
’Theattempthere，’saidBoffinseverely，’istodemoralizetherulersofthepeople。Iamgladtohavecomeoncetoseehowthethingisdone。butasanindependentmemberoftheHouseofCommonsIshouldnotwishtobeknowntofrequentthesaloonoftheDuchess。’ThenMrBoffintookawayMrsBoffin，muchtothatlady’sregret。
’Thisisfairyland，’saidLopeztotheDuchess，ashelefttheroom。
’Comeandbeafairythen，’sheanswered，verygraciously。’WearealwaysonthewingaboutthishouronWednesdaynight。’Thewordscontainedageneralinvitationfortheseason，andwereesteemedbyLopezasanindicationofgreatfavour。ItmustbeacknowledgedoftheDuchessthatshewaspronetomakefavourites，perhapswithoutadequatecause。thoughitmustbeconcededtoherthatsherarelyaltogetherthrewofffromheranyonewhomshehadoncetakentohergoodgraces。Itmustalsobeconfessedthatwhenshehadallowedherselftohateeitheramanorawoman，shegenerallyhatedontotheend。NoParadisecouldbetoocharmingforherfriends。noPandemoniumtoofrightfulforherenemies。InreferencetoMrLopezshewouldhavesaid，ifinterrogated，thatshehadtakenthemanupinobediencetoherhusband。Butintruthshehadlikedthelookandthevoiceoftheman。Herhusbandbeforenowhadrecommendedmentohernoticeandkindness，whomatthefirsttrialshehadrejectedfromhergood-will，andwhomshehadcontinuedtorejecteverafterwards，letherhusband’surgencybewhatitmight。
Anotheroldfriend，ofwhomformerchronicleswerenotsilent，wasattheDuchess’sthatnight，andtherecameacrossMrsFinn。
ThiswasBarringtonErle，apoliticianoflongstanding，whowasstilllookeduponbymanyasayoungman，becausehehadalwaysbeenknownasayoungman，andbecausehehadneverdoneanythingtocompromisehispositioninthatrespect。Hehadnotmarried，orsettledhimselfdowninahouseofhisown，orbecomesubjecttogout，orgivenupbeingcarefulaboutthefittingofhisclothes。Nodoubtthegreyhairsweregettingthebetteroftheblackhairs，bothonhisheadandface，andmarksofcomingcrows’feetweretobeseenifyoulookedcloseathim，andhehadbecomecarefulabouthisgreat-coatandumbrella。Hewasintruthmuchnearerfiftythanforty——neverthelesshewasfeltintheHouseandamongCabinetMinistersandamongthewivesofmembersandCabinetMinisters，tobeayoungmanstill。AndwhenhewasinvitedtobecomeSecretaryforIrelanditwasgenerallyfeltthathewastooyoungfortheplace。Hedeclinedit，however，andwhenhewenttothePost-office，thegentlementhereallfeltthattheyhadhadaboyputoverthem。PhineasFinn，whohadbecomeSecretaryforIreland，wasintruthtenyearsthejunior。ButPhineasFinnhadbeentwicemarried，andhadgonethroughotherphasesoflife，suchasmakeamanold。’HowdoesPhineaslikeit？’Erleasked。PhineasFinnandBarringtonErlehadgonethroughsomepoliticalstrugglestogether，andhadbeenveryintimate。
’Ihopenotverymuch，’saidthelady。
’Whyso？Becausehe’sawaysomuch？’
No——notthat。Ishouldnotgrudgehisabsenceiftheworksatisfiedhim。ButIknowhimsowell。Themorehetakestoitnow，——themoresanguineheisastosomespecialthingtobedone，——themorebitterwillbethedisappointmentwhenheisdisappointed。Forthereneverreallyisanythingspecialtobedone——isthere，MrErle？’
’IthingthereisalwaysalittletoomuchzealaboutFinn。’
’Ofcoursethereis。Andthenwithzealtherealwaysgoesathinskin，——andunjustifiableexpectations，andbitingdespair，andcontemptofothers，andalltheelementsofunhappiness。’
’Thatisasadprogrammeforyourhusband。’
’Hehasrecuperativefacultieswhichbringhimroundatlast：——
butIreallydoubtwhetherhewasmadeforapoliticianinthiscountry。YourememberLordBrock？’
’DearoldBrock——ofcourseIdo。HowshouldInot，ifyourememberhim？’
’Youngmenareboysatcollege，rowinginboats，whenwomenhavebeeneversolongoutintheworld。HewastheverymodelofanEnglishstatesman。Helovedhiscountrydearly，andwishedhertobe，ashebelievedhertobe，firstamongnations。Buthehadnobeliefinperpetuatinghergreatnessbyanygrandimprovements。Letthingstaketheirwaynaturally——withaslightdirectionhitherorthitherasthingmightrequired。Thatwashismethodofruling。Hebelievedinmenratherthanmeasures。Aslongashehadtheloyaltyaroundhim，hecouldbepersonallyhappy，andquiteconfidentastothecountry。Heneverbrokehisheartbecausehecouldnotcarrythisorthatreform。Whatwouldhavehurthimwouldhavebeentobeworstedinpersonalconflict。Buthecouldalwaysholdhisown，andhewasalwayshappy。Yourmanwithathinskin，avehementambition，ascrupulousconscience，andasanguinedesireforrapidimprovement，isneverhappy，andseldomafortunatepolitician。’
’MrsFinn，youunderstanditallbetterthananyoneelsethatI
everknew。’
’Ihavebeenwatchingitalongtime，andofcourseverycloselysinceIhavebeenmarried。’
’Butyouhaveaneyetrainedtoseeitall。Whatausefulmemberyouwouldhavemadeingovernment！’
’ButIshouldneverhavehadthepatiencetositallnightuponthatbenchintheHouseofCommons。Howmencandoit！Theymustn’tread。Theycan’tthinkbecauseofthespeaking。Itdoesn’tdoforthemtotalk。Idon’tbelievetheyeverlisten。
Itisn’tinhumannaturetolistenhourafterhourtosuchplatitudes。Ibelievetheyfallintohabitofhalf-wakefulsleeping，whichcarriesthemthroughthehours。buteventhatcan’tbepleasant。IlookupontheTreasuryBenchinJulyasasortofcasual-ward，whichweknowtobenecessary，butisalmosttoohorridtobecontemplated。’
’Mendogetbreadandskillytherecertainly。but，MrsFinn，wecangointothelibraryandsmoking-room。’
’Oh，yes——andaclerkinanofficecanreadthenewspapersinsteadofdoinghisduty。Butthereisacertainsurveillanceexercised，andacertainquantityofworkexacted。IhavemetLordsoftheTreasuryoutatdinneronMondaysandThursdays，butweallregardthemasboyswhohaveshirkedoutofschool。I
thinkuponthewhole，MrErle，wewomenhavethebestofit。’
’Idon’tsupposeyouwillgoinforyourrights。’
’NotbyActofParliament，orbyplatformmeeting。Ihaveagreatideaofawoman’srights。butthatistheway，Ithink，tothrowthemaway。WhatdoyouthinkoftheDuchess’sevenings？’
’LadyGlenisinherwayasgreatawomanasyouare，——perhapsgreater，becausenothingeverstopsher。’
’WhereasIhavescruples。’
’HerGracehasnone。Shehasfeelingsandconvictionswhichkeepherstraight，butnoscruples。LookathernowtalkingtoSirOrlandoDrought，amanshebothhatesanddespises。IamsuresheislookingforwardtosomehappytimeinwhichtheDukemaypitchSirOrlandooverboard，andrulesupreme，withmeorsomeothersubordinateleadingtheHouseofCommonssimplyaslieutenant。Suchatimewillnevercome，butthatisheridea。
ButsheistalkingtoSirOrlandonowasifshewerepouringherfullconfidenceintohisear。andSirOrlandoisbelievingher。
SirOrlandoisinaseventhheaven，andsheismeasuringhiscredulityinchbyinch。’
’Shemakestheplaceverybright。’
’Andisspendinganenormousdealofmoney，’saidBarringtonErle。
’Whatdoesitmatter？’
’Well，no——iftheDukelikesit。IhadanideathattheDukewouldnotlikethedisplayofthething。Thereheis。Doyouseehiminthecornerwithhisbrotherduke。Hedoesn’tlookasifhewerehappy。doeshe？Noonewouldthinkhewasthemasterofeverythinghere。Hehasgothimselfhiddenalmostbehindthescreen。I’msurehedoesn’tlikeit。’
’Hetriestolikewhatevershelikes，’saidMrsFinn。
AsherhusbandwasawayinIreland，MrsFinnwasstayinginthehouseinCarltonGardens。TheDuchessatpresentrequiredsomuchofhertimethatthiswasfoundtobeconvenient。When，therefore，theguestsonthepresentoccasionhadallgone，theDuchessandMrsFinnwerelefttogether。’Didyoueverseeanythingsohopelessasheis？’saidtheDuchess。
’Whoishopeless？’
’Heavenandearth！Plantagenet——whoelse？Isthereanothermanintheworldwouldcomeinhisownhouse，amonghisownguests，andspeakonlytooneperson？And，then，thinkofit！
PopularityisthestaffonwhichaloneMinisterscanleaninthiscountrywithsecurity。’
’Politicalbutnotsocialsecurity。’
’YouknowaswellasIdothatthetwogotogether。We’veseenenoughofthateveninourday。WhatbrokeupMrGresham’sMinistry？Ifhehadstayedawaypeoplemighthavethoughtthathewasreadingblue-books，orcalculatingcoinage，orpreparingaspeech。Thatwouldhavebeenmuchbetter。Buthecomesinandsitsforhalfanhourwhisperingtoanotherduke！Ihatedukes！’
’HetalkstotheDukeofStBungaybecausethereisnoonehetrustssomuch。AfewyearsagoitwouldhavebeenMrMildmay。’
’Mydear，’saidtheDuchessangrily，’youtreatmeasthoughI
wereachild。OfcourseIknowwhyhechoosesthatoldmanoutofallthecrowd。Idon’tsupposehedoesfromanystupidprideofrank。Iknowverywellwhatsetofideasgovernhim。Butthatisn’tthepoint。Hehastoreflectwhatothersthinkofit，andtoendeavourtodowhatwillpleasethem。TherewasI
tellingtarradiddlesbytheyardtothatoldoafSirOrlandoDrought，whenaconfidentialwordfromPlantagenetwouldhavehadtentimesmoreeffect。Andwhycan’thespeakawordtothepeople’swives？Theywouldn’tbithim。Hehasgottosayafewwordstoyousometimes，——towhomitdoesn’tsignify，mydear。’
’Idon’tknowaboutthat。’
’Butheneverspeakstoanotherwoman。Hewasherethiseveningforexactlyfortyminutes，andhedidn’topenhislipstoafemalecreature。Iwatchedhim。HowonearthamItopullhimthroughifhegoesoninthatway？Yes，Locock，I’llgotobed，andIdon’tthinkI’llgetupforaweek。’
CHAPTER12
THEGATHERINGOFCLOUDS。
ThroughoutJuneandthefirstweekofJulytheaffairsoftheMinistrywentonsuccessfully，inspiteofthesocialsinsoftheDukeandtheoccasionaldespairoftheDuchess。Therehadbeenmanypoliticianswhohadthought，orhad，atanyrate，predictedthattheCoalitionMinistrywouldnotliveamonth。Therehadbeenmen，suchasLordFawnononesideandMrBoffinontheother，whohadfoundthemselvesstrandeddisagreeably，——withnocertainposition，——unwillingtositbehindaTreasurybenchfromwhichtheywereexcluded，andtooshytoplacethemselvesimmediatelyopposite。Seatsbeneaththegangwaywere，ofcourse，opentosuchofthemasweremembersoftheLowerHouseandthoseseatshadtobeused。buttheywerenotaccustomedtositbeneaththegangway。Thesegentlemenhadexpectedthattheseedsofweakness，ofwhichtheyhadperceivedascattering，wouldgrowatonceintoanenormouscropofblunders，difficulties，andcomplications。but，forawhile，theMinistryweresavedfromthesedangerseitherbytheenergyofthePrimeMinister，orthepopularityofhiswife，orperhapsbythesagacityoftheelderDuke——sothattheregrewupanideathattheCoalitionwasreallytheproperthing。Inonerespectitcertainlywassuccessful。TheHomeRulers，orIrishpartygenerally，wereleftwithoutaninchofstandingground。Theirsupportwasnotneeded，andthereforetheywerenotcourted。ForthemomenttherewasnotevenanecessitytopretendthatHomeRulewasanythingbutanabsurdityfrombeginningtoend——somuchsothatoneortwoleadingHomeRulers，menwhohadtakenupthecausenotonlythattheymightbecomeMembersofParliament，butwithsomefurtherideaofspeech-makingandpopularity，declaredthattheCoalitionhadbeenformedmerelywithaviewofputtingdownIreland。Thiscapabilityofdispensingwithagenerallyintractableelementofsupportwasfelttobeagreatcomfort。
Then，too，therewasasetintheHouse，——atthatmomentnotaverynumerousset，——whohadbeentroublesomefriendstotheoldLiberalparty，andwhichtheCoalitionwasable，ifnottoignore，atanyratetodisregard。Thesewerethestauncheconomists，andargumentativephilosophicalRadicals，——menofstandingandrepute，whoarealwaysindoubtfultimesindividuallyflatteredbyMinisters，whohavegreatprivilegesaccordedtothemofspeakinganddividing，andwhoarenotunfrequentlyeventhankedfortheirrodsbytheveryownersofthebackswhichbearthescourges。ThesemencouldnotbequitesetasidebytheCoalitionasweretheHomeRules。Itwasnotevenyet，perhaps，wisetocountthemout，ortoleavethemtotalktothebenchesabsolutelyempty——butthetoneofflatterywithwhichtheyhadbeenaddressedbecamegraduallylesswarm。
andwhenthescourgeswerewielded，ministerialbackstookthemselvesoutoftheway。Theregrewupunconsciouslyafeelingofsecurityagainstattackwhichwasdistastefultothesegentlemen，andwasinitselfperhapsalittledangerous。
GentlemenboundtosupporttheGovernment，whentheyperceivedthattherewascomparativelybutlittletodo，andthatlittlemighteasilybedone，becamecareless，and，perhapsalittlecontemptuous。Sothatthegreatpopularorator，MrTurnbull，foundhimselfcompelledtoriseinhisseat，andaskwhetherthenobleDukeattheheadoftheGovernmentthoughthimselfstrongenoughtorulewithoutattentiontoparliamentarydetails。Thequestionwasaskedwithanairofinexorableseverity，andwasintendedtohavedeepsignification。MrTurnbullhaddislikedtheCoalitionfromthebeginning。butthenMrTurnbullalwaysdislikedeverything。Hehadsoaccustomedhimselftowieldtheconstitutionalcat-of-nine-tails，thatheavenwillhardlybehappytohimunlesshebeallowedtoflogthecherubim。ThoughthepartywithwhichhewaspresumedtoacthadgenerallybeeninpowersincehehadbeenintheHouse，hehadneverallowedhimselftoagreewithaMinisteronanypoint。AndashehadneverbeensatisfiedwithaLiberalGovernment，itwasnotprobablethatheshouldendureaCoalitioninsilence。Attheendofaratherlengthyspeech，herepeatedhisquestion，andthensatdown，takinghisplacewithallthatconstitutionalindignation，whichbecomestheparliamentaryflagellatoroftheday。ThelittlejokeswithwhichSirOrlandoansweredhimwereverywellintheirway。MrTurnbulldidnotcaremuchwhetherhewereansweredornot。PerhapsthejauntinessofSirOrlando，whichimpliedthattheCoalitionwastoostrongtoregardattack，somewhatirritatedoutsiders。ButtherecertainlygrewupfromthatmomentafeelingamongsuchmenasErleandRattlerthatcarewasnecessary，thattheHouse，takenasawhole，wasnotinaconditiontobemanipulatedwitheasyfreedom，andthatSirOrlandomustbemadetounderstandthathewasnotstrongenoughtodependonsuchjauntiness。Thejauntystatesmanmustbeverysureofhispersonalfollowing。TherewasageneralopinionthatSirOrlandohadnotbroughttheCoalitionwelloutofthefirstrealattackwhichhadbeenmadeuponit。
’Well，Phineas。howdoyoulikethePhoenix？’PhineasFinnhadflownbacktoLondonattheinstigationofprobablyMrRattler，andwasnowstandingatthewindowofBrook’sclubwithBarringtonErle。ItwasnearnineoneThursdayevening，andtheywerebothabouttoreturntotheHouse。
’Idon’tliketheCastle，ifyoumeanthat。’
’Tyroneisn’ttroublesome，surely。’TheMarquisofTyronewastheLordLieutenantoftheday，andhadinhistimebeenaverystrongConservative。
’Hefindsmetroublesome，Ifear，’
’Idon’twonderatthat，Phineas。’
’Howshoulditbeotherwise？WhatcanheandIhaveinsympathywithoneanother？HehasbeenbroughtupwithalltheOrangeman’shatredforaPapist。Nowthatheisinhighoffice，hecanabandonthedisplayofthefeeling，——perhapsthefeelingitselfasregardsthecountryatlarge。Heknowsthatitdoesn’tbecomeaLordLieutenanttobeOrange。Buthowcanheputhimselfintoaboatwithme？’
’Allthatkindofthingvanisheswhenamanisinhighoffice。’
’Yes，asarule。becausemengotogetherintoofficewiththesamegeneralpredilections。Isittoohottowalkdown？’
’I’llwalkalittleway，——tillyoumakemehotbyarguing。’
’Ihaven’tanargumentleftinme，’saidPhineas。’Ofcourseeverythingoverthereseemseasyenoughnow，——soeasythatLordTyroneevidentlyimaginesthatthegoodtimesarecomingbackinwhichgovernorsmaygovernandnotbegoverned。’
’YouareprettyquietinIrelandnow，Isuppose——nomartiallaw，suspensionofthehabeascorpus，oranythingofthatkind，justatpresent？’
’No。thankgoodness！’saidPhineas。
’I’mnotquitesurewhetherageneralsuspensionofthehabeascorpuswouldnotuponthewholebethemostcomfortablestateofthingsforIrishmenthemselves。Butwhethergoodorbad，you’venothingofthatkindofthingnow。You’venogreatmeasurethatyouwishtopass？’
’Butthey’veagreatmeasurethattheywishtopass。’
’Theyknowbetterthanthat。Theydon’twanttokilltheirgoldengoose。’
’Thepeople，whoareinfinitelyignorantofallpoliticalwork，dowantit。Therearecountieswhich，ifyouweretopollthepeople，HomeRulewouldcarrynearlyeveryvoter，——exceptthemembersthemselves。’
’Youwouldn’tgiveitthem？’
’Certainlynot——anymorethanIwouldallowasontoruinhimselfbecauseheaskedme。ButIwouldendeavourtoteachthemthattheygetnothingbyHomeRule，——thattheirtaxeswouldbeheavier，thepropertylesssecure，theirliveslesssafe，theirgeneralpositionmoredebased，andtheirchancesofnationalsuccessmoreremotethanever。’
’Youcanneverteachthem，exceptbytheslowlessonofhabit。
TheHeptarchydidn’tmoulditselfintoanationinaday。’
’Menweregovernedthen，andcouldbeanweremoulded。IfeelsurethateveninIrelandthereisastratumofmen，abovetheworkingpeasants，whowouldunderstand，andmakethosebelowthemunderstand，thepositionofthecountry，iftheycouldonlybegottogiveupthefeelingaboutreligion。EvennowHomeRuleisregardedbythemultitudeasaweapontobeusedagainstProtestantisminbehalfofthePope。’
’IsupposethePopeisthegreatsinner？’
’TheygotoverthePopeinFrance，——eveninearlydays，beforereligionhadbecomeafarceinthecountry。TheyhavedonesoinItaly。’
’Yes——theyhavegotoverthePopeinItaly，certainly。’
’Andyet，’saidPhineas，’thebulkofthepeoplearestaunchCatholics。Ofcoursethesameattempttomaintainatemporalinfluence，withthehopeofrecoveringtemporalpower，ismadeinothercountries。Butwhileweseetheattemptfailingelsewhere，——sothatweknowthepoweroftheChurchisgoingtothewall，——yetinIrelanditisinfinitelystrongernowthanitwasfifty，oreventwentyyearsago。’
’BecausewehavebeenremovingrestraintsonPapalaggression，whileothernationshavebeenimposingrestraints。TherearethoseatRomewhobelieveallEnglandtobeRomishatheart，becausehereinEnglandaRomanCatholiccansaywhathewill，andprintwhathewill。’
’Andyet，’saidPhineas，’allEnglanddoesnotreturnoneCatholictotheHouse，whilewehaveJewsinplenty。YouhaveaJewamongyourEnglishjudges，butatpresentnotasingleRomanCatholic。WhatdoyousupposearethecomparativenumbersofthepopulationhereinEngland？’
’Andyouaregoingtocureallthis——whileTyronethinksitoughttobeleftasitis？IratheragreewithTyrone。’
’No，。saidPhineas，wearily。’IdoubtwhetherIshallevercureanything，orevenmakeanyrealattempt。Mypatriotismjustgoesfarenoughtomakemeunhappy，andLordTyronethinksthatwhileDublinladiesdanceattheCastle，andthelistofagrarianmurdersiskeptlow，thecountryisadmirablymanaged。Idon’tquiteagreewithhim，——that’sall。’
Thentherearosealegaldifficulty，whichcausedmuchtroubletotheCoalitionMinistry。Therefellvacantacertainseatonthebenchofjudges，——aseatofconsiderabledignityandimportance，butnotquiteofthehighestrank。SirGregoryGrogram，whowasarich，energeticman，determinedtohaveapeerage，andconvincedthat，shouldtheCoalitionfalltopieces，theLiberalelementwouldbeintheascendant，——sothatthewoolsackwouldthenbeopenedtohim，——declinedtooccupytheplace。SirTimothyBeeswax，theSolicitor-General，sawthatitwasexactlysuitedforhim，andhadnohesitationinexpressinganopiniontothateffect。ButtheplacewasnotgiventoSirTimothy。ItwasexplainedtoSirTimothythattheoldrule，——orrathercustom，——ofofferingcertainhighpositionstothelawofficersoftheCrown，hadbeenabrogated。SomePrimeMinister，or，moreprobably，somecollectionofCabinetMinisters，hadassertedthecustomtobeabadone，——andasfarasrightwent，SirTimothywasdeclarednothavealegtostandupon。HewasinformedthathisservicesintheHouseweretoovaluabletobelost。Somepeoplesaidthathistemperwasagainsthim。Otherswereoftheopinionthathehadrisenfromtherankstooquickly，andthatLordRamsdenwhohadcomefromthesameparty，thoughtthatSirTimothyhadnotyetwonhisspurs。TheSolicitor-Generalresignedinahuff，andthenwithdrewhisresignation。SirGregorythoughtthewithdrawalshouldnotbeaccepted，havingfoundSirTimothytobeanunsympatheticcolleague。OurDukeconsultedtheoldDuke，amongwhosetheoriesofofficiallifeforbearancetoallcolleaguesandsubordinateswasconspicuous。
Thewithdrawalwasthereforeallowed，——buttheCoalitioncouldnotafterthatbesaidtobestronginregardtoitsLawOfficers。
ButthefirstconcertedattackagainsttheMinistrywasmadeinreferencetothebudget。MrMonk，whohadconsentedtoundertakethedutiesofChancelloroftheExchequerundertheurgententreatiesofthetwodukes，wasofcourselatewiththebudget。
ItwasAprilbeforetheCoalitionhadbeenformed。Thebudgetwhenproducedhadbeenverypopular。Budgets，likebabies，arealwayslittleloveswhenfirstborn。Butastheirinfancypassesaway，theyalsobecomesubjecttomanystripes。Thedetailsarelesspleasingthanwasthewholeinthehandsofthenurse。
Therewasacertain’interest’，veryinfluentialbothbygeneralwealthandbythepresenceofmanymembersintheHouse，whichthoughtthatMrMonkhaddisregardeditsjustclaims。MrMonkhadrefusedtorelievetheBrewersfromtheirlicences。NowtheBrewershadforsomeyearsbeenagitatingabouttheirlicences，——anditisacknowledgedinpoliticsthatanymeasureistobecarriedout，orleftoutinthecolduncarriedandneglected，accordingtothenumberofdeputationswhichmaybegottopressaMinisteronthesubject。NowtheBrewershadhaddeputationafterdeputationtomanyChancellorsoftheExchequer。andthesedeputationshadbeenmostrespectable，——wemayalmostsayimperative。ItwasquiteusualforadeputationtohavefourorfiveCountymembersamongthebody，allBrewers。andtheaveragewealthofadeputationofBrewerswouldbuyuphalfLondon。AlltheBrewersintheHousehadbeenamongthesupportersoftheCoalition，thenumberofLiberalandConservativeBrewershavingbeenaboutequal。Butnowtherewasafearthatthe’interest’
mightputitselfintoopposition。MrMonkhadbeenfirm。MorethanoneoftheMinistryhadwishedtoyield——buthehaddiscussedthematterwiththeChief。andtheywerebothveryfirm。TheDukehadneverdoubted。MrMonkhadneverdoubted。
FromdaytodaycertainorgansofthePressexpressedanopinion，graduallyincreasinginstrength，thathoweverstrongmightbetheCoalitionasabody，itwasweakastofinance。Thiswashardbecausenotverymanyyearsago，theDukehimselfhadbeenknownasaparticularlystrongMinisterofFinance。AnamendmentwasmovedinCommitteeastotheBrewer’sLicences，andtherewasalmostageneralopinionthattheCoalitionwouldbebrokenup。
MrMonkwouldcertainlynotremaininofficeiftheBrewersweretoberelievedfromtheirlicences。
ThenitwasthatPhineasFinnwasrecalledfromIrelandinredhothaste。Themeasurewasdebatedforacoupleofnights，andMrMonkcarriedhispoint。TheBrewers’Licenceswereallowedtoremain，asonegreatgentlemanfromBurtondeclared，a’disgracetothefiscalsagacityofthecountry。’TheCoalitionwassofarvictorious，——buttherewasageneralfeelingthatitsstrengthhadbeenimpaired。
CHAPTER13
MRWHARTONCOMPLAINS。
’Ithinkyouhavebetrayedme。’ThisaccusationwasbroughtbyMrWhartonagainstMrsRobyinthatlady’sdrawing-room，andwasoccasionedbyareportthathadbeenmadetotheoldlawyerbyhisdaughter。Hewasveryangryandalmostviolent——somuchsothatbyhismanner，hegaveconsiderableadvantagetotheladywhomhewasaccusing。
MrsRobyundoubtedlyhadbetrayedherbrother-in-law。Shehadbeenfalsetothetrustreposedinher。Hehadexplainedhiswishestoherinregardtohisdaughter，towhomshehadinsomesortassumedtostandinplaceofamother，andshe，whilepretendingtoactinaccordancewithhiswishes，haddirectlyopposedthem。Butitwasnotlikelythathewouldbeabletoprovehertreacherythoughhemightbesureofit。HehaddesiredthatthegirlshouldseeaslittleaspossibleofFerdinandLopez，buthadhesitatedtogiveapositiveorderthatsheshouldnotmeethim。Hehadindeedhimselftakenhertoadinnerpartyatwhichheknewthatshewouldmeethim。ButMrsRobyhadbetrayedhim。Sincethedinnerpartyshehadarrangedameetingatherownhouseinbehalfofthelover，——astowhicharrangementEmilyWhartonhadherselfbeenaltogetherinnocent。
Emilyhadmetthemaninheraunt’shouse，notexpectingtomeethim，andtheloverhadhadanopportunityofspeakinghismindfreely。Shealsohadspokenhersfreely。Shewouldnotengageherselfwithoutherfather’sconsent。Withthatconsentshewoulddoso，——oh，sowillingly！Shedidnotcoyherlove。Hemightbecertainthatshewouldgiveherselftonooneelse。Herheartwasentirelyhis。Butshehadpledgedherselftoherfather，andonnoconsiderationwouldshebreakthatpledge。Shewentontosaythatafterwhathadpassedshethoughtthattheyhadbetternotmeet。Insuchmeetingstherecouldbenosatisfaction，andmustbemuchpain。Buthehadherfullpermissiontouseanyargumentsthathecouldusewithherfather。Ontheeveningofthatdayshetoldherfatherallthathadpassed，——omittingnodetaileitherofwhatshehadsaidorofwhathadbeensaidtoher——addingapositiveassuranceofobedience，butdoingsowithaseveresolemnityandapparentconsciousnessofill-usagewhichalmostbrokeherfather’sheart。
’Yourauntmusthavelaidhimthereonpurpose，’MrWhartonhadsaid。ButEmilywouldneitheraccusenordefendheraunt。’Iatleastknewnothingofit，’shesaid。’Iknowthat，’MrWhartonhadejaculated。’Iknowthat。Idon’taccuseyouofanything，mydear，——exceptofthinkingthatyouunderstandtheworldbetterthanIdo。’ThenEmilyhadretiredandMrWhartonhadbeenlefttopasshalfthenightinperplexedreverie，feelingthathewouldbeforcedultimatelytogiveway，andyetcertainthatbydoingsohewouldendangerhischild’shappiness。
Hewassoangrywithhissister-in-law，andonthenextday，earlyinthemorning，heattackedher。’Ithinkyouhavebetrayedme，’hesaid。
’Whatdoyoumeanbythat，MrWharton？’
’YouhavehadthismanhereonpurposethathemightmakelovetoEmily。’
’Ihavedonenosuchthing。Youtoldmeyourselfthattheywerenottobekeptapart。Hecomeshere，anditwouldbeveryoddindeedifIweretotelltheservantsthatheisnottobeadmitted。Ifyouwanttoquarrelwithme，ofcourseyoucan。I
havealwaysendeavouredtobeagoodfriendtoEmily。’
’Itisnotbeingagoodfriendtoher，bringingherandthisadventurertogether。’
’Idon’tknowwhyyoucallhimanadventurer。Butyouaresoveryoddinyourideas！Heisreceivedeverywhere，andisalwaysattheDuchessofOmnium’s。’
’Idon’tcareafigabouttheDuchess。’
’Idaresaynot。OnlytheDukehappenstobePrimeMinister，andhishouseisconsideredtohavetheverybestsocietyinEngland，orindeed，Europe，cangive。AndIthinkitissomethinginayoungman’sfavourwhenitisknownthatheassociateswithsuchpersonsastheDukeofOmnium。Ibelievethatmostfatherswouldhavearegardtothecompanywhichamankeepswhentheythinkoftheirdaughter’smarrying。’
’Iain’tthinkingofhermarrying。Idon’twanthertomarry——
notthismanatleast。AndIfancytheDuchessofOmniumisjustaslikelytohavescampsinherdrawing-roomasanyotherladyinLondon。’
’AnddosuchmenasMrHappertonassociatewithscamps？’
’Idon’tknowanythingaboutMrHapperton，——andIdon’tcareanythingabouthim。’
’Hehas20，000poundsayearoutofhisbusiness。AnddoesEverettassociatewithscamps。’
’Verylikely。’
’Ineverknewanyonesomuchprejudicedasyouare，MrWharton。
Whenyouhaveapointtocarrythere’snothingyouwon’tsay。I
supposeitcomesfrombeinginthecourts。’
’Thelongandshortofitisthis，’saidthelawyer，’ifIfindthatEmilyisbroughtheretomeetMrLopez，Imustforbidhertocomeatall。’
’Youmustdoasyoupleaseaboutthat。Buttotellyouthetruth，MrWharton，Ithinkthemischiefisdone。SuchagirlasEmily，whenshehastakenitintoherheadtoloveaman，isnotlikelytogivehimup。’
’Shehaspromisedtohavenothingtosaytohimwithoutmysanction。’
’Weallknowwhatthatmeans。You’llhavetogiveway。You’llfindthatitwillbeso。Thesternparentwhodoomshisdaughtertoperpetualseclusionbecauseshewon’tmarrythemanhelikes，doesn’tbelongtothisage。’
’Whotalksaboutseclusion？’
’Doyousupposethatshe’llgiveupthemanshelovesbecauseyoudon’tlikehim？Isthatthewaygirlslivenowadays？Shewon’trunawaywithhim，becauseshe’snotoneofthatsort。butunlessyou’reharder-heartedthanItakeyoutobe，she’llmakeyourlifeaburdentoyou。Andasforbetrayingyou，that’snonsense。
You’venorighttosayit。I’mnotgoingtoquarrelwithyouwhateveryoumaysay，butyou’venorighttosayit。’
MrWhartonashewentawaytoLincoln’sInn，bewailedhimselfbecauseheknewhewasnothard-hearted。Whathissister-in-lawhadsaidtohiminthatrespectwastrueenough。Ifhecouldonlyridhimselfofacertaininternalaguewhichmadehimfeelthathislifewas，indeed，aburdentohimwhilehisdaughterwasunhappy，heneedonlyremainpassiveandsimplynotgivethepermissionwithoutwhichhisdaughterwouldnoteverengageherselftothisman。Buttheaguetroubledeveryhourofhispresentlife。Thatsister-in-lawofhiswasasilly，vulgar，worldly，andmostuntrustworthywoman——butshehadunderstoodwhatshewassaying。
AndtherehadbeensomethinginthatargumentabouttheDuchessofOmnium’sparties，andMrHapperton，whichhaditseffect。Ifthemandidlivewiththegreatandwealthy，itmustbebecausetheythoughtwellofhimandhisposition。Thefactofhisbeinganastyforeigner，andprobablyofJewishdescent，remained。
Tohim，Wharton，themanmustalwaysbedistasteful。Buthecouldhardlymaintainhisoppositiontooneofwhomthechoicespiritsoftheworldthoughtwell。Andhetriedtobefaironthesubject。Itmightbethatitwasaprejudice。Othersprobablydidnotfindamantobeodiousbecausehewasswarthy，orevenobjecttohimifhewereaJewbydescent。Butitwaswonderfultohimthathisgirlshouldlikesuchaman，——shouldlikesuchamanwellenoughtochoosehimastheonecompanionofherlife。ShehadbeenbroughtuptopreferEnglishmen，andEnglishthinking，andEnglishways，——andEnglishways，too，somewhatofapasttime。HethoughtasdidBrabantio，thatitcouldnotbethatwithoutmagic，hisdaughterhadalsoshunned——
Thewealthycurleddarlingsofournation，Wouldeverhave，toincurageneralmock，RunfromherguardagetothesootybosomOfsuchathingas——
thedistastefulPortuguese。
Thateveninghesaidnothingfurthertohisdaughter，butsatwithher，silentanddisconsolate。Laterintheevening，aftershehadgonetoherroom，Everettcameinwhiletheoldmanwasstillwalkingupanddownthedrawing-room。’Wherehaveyoubeen？’askedthefather，——notcaringastrawastoanyreplywhenheaskedthequestion，butrousedalmosttoangerbytheanswerwhenitcame。
’IhavebeendiningwithLopezattheclub。’
’Ibelieveyoulivewiththatman。’
’Isthereareason，sir，whyIshouldnot？’
’Youknowthereisagoodreasonwhythereshouldbenopeculiarintimacy。ButIdon’tsupposethatmywishes，oryoursister’swelfare，willinterestyou。’
’Thatissevere，sir。’
’IamnotsuchafoolastosupposethatyouaretoquarrelwithamanbecauseIdon’tapproveofhisaddressingyoursister。butIdothinkthatwhilethisisgoingon，andwhileheperseveresinoppositiontomydistinctrefusal，youneednotassociatewithhiminanyspecialmanner。’
’Idon’tunderstandyourobjectiontohim，sir。’
’Idaresaynot。Thereareagreatmanythingsyoudon’tunderstand。ButIdoobject。’
’He’saveryrisingman。MrRobywassayingtomejustnow——’
’WhocaresastrawwhatafoollikeRobysays？’
’Idon’tmeanUncleDick，buthisbrother，——who，Isuppose，issomebodyintheworld。HewassayingtomejustnowthathewonderedwhyLopezdoesnotgointotheHouse——thathewouldbesuretogetaseatifhechose，andsafetomakeamarkwhenhegotthere。’
’IdaresayhewouldgetintotheHouse。Idon’tknowanywell-
to-doblackguardofwhomyoumightnotpredictasmuch。AseatintheHouseofCommonsdoesn’tmakeamanagentleman，asfarasIcansee。’
’IthinkeveryoneallowsthatFerdinandLopezisagentleman。’
’Whowashisfather？’
’Ididn’thappentoknowhim，sir。’
’Andwhowashismother？Idon’tsupposeyouwillcreditanythingbecauseIsayit，butasfarasmyexperiencegoes，amandoesn’toftenbecomeagentlemaninthefirstgeneration。A
manmaybeveryworthy，veryclever，veryrich，——verywellworthknowing，ifyouwill——butwhenonetalksofadmittingamanintoclosefamilycommunionbymarriage，onewould，Ifancy，wishtoknowsomethingofhisfatherandmother。’ThenEverettescaped，andMrWhartonwasagainlefttohisownmeditations。
Oh，whataperil，whatatrouble，whatalabyrinthofdifficultieswasadaughter！Hemusteitherbeknownasastern，hard-heartedparent，utterlyindifferenttohischild’sfeelings，usingwithtyrannythepoweroverherwhichcametohimonlyfromasenseoffilialduty，——orelsehemustgiveuphisownjudgement，andyieldtoherinamatterastowhichhebelievedthatsuchyieldingwouldbemostpernicioustoherowninterests。
Hithertohereallyknewnothingoftheman’smeans——nor，ifhecouldhavehisownway，didhewanttosuchinformation。But，asthingsweregoingnow，hebegantofeelthatifhecouldhearanythingaversetotheman，hemightthusstrengthenhishandsagainsthim。Onthefollowingdayhewentintothecity，andcalledonanoldfriend，abanker，——onewhomhehadknownfornearlyhalfacentury，andofwhom，therefore，hewasnotafraidtoaskaquestion。ForMrWhartonwasamannotprone，intheordinaryintercourseoflife，eithertoaskortoanswerquestions。’Youdon’tknowanything，doyou，ofamannamedFerdinandLopez？’
’Ihaveheardofhim。Butwhydoyouask？’
’Well。Ihavereasonforasking。Idon’tknowthatIquitewishtosaywhatmyreasonis。’
’IhaveheardofhimasconnectedwithHunky’shouse，’saidthebanker，——’orratherwithoneofthepartnersinthehouse。’
’Isheamanofmeans？’
’Iimaginehimtobeso——butIknownothing。Hehasratherlargedealings，Itakeit，inforeignstocks。Isheaftermyoldfriend，MissWharton？’
’Well——yes。’
’YouhadbettergetmoreinformationthanIcangiveyou。But，ofcourse，beforeanythingofthatkindwasdone，youwouldseethatmoneywassettled。’Thiswasallheheardinthecity，andthiswasnotsatisfactory。Hehadnotlikedtotellhisfriendthathewishedtohearthattheforeignerwasaneedyadventurer，——altogetheruntrustworthy。butthathadreallybeenhisdesire。
Thenhethoughtofthe60，000poundswhichhehimselfdestinedforhisgirl。Ifthemanweretohislikingtherewouldbemoneyenough。Thoughhehadbeencarefultosavemoney，hewasnotagreedyman，evenforhischildren。Shouldhisdaughterinsistonmarryingthisman，hecouldtakecarethatsheshouldneverwantasufficientincome。
Asafirststep，——athingtobedonealmostatonce，——hemusttakeherawayfromLondon。ItwasnowJuly，andthecustomofthefamilywasthatthehouseinManchesterSquareshouldbeleftfortwomonths，andthattheflittingshouldtakeplaceinaboutthemiddleofAugust。MrWhartonusuallylikedtopostponetheflitting，ashealsolikedtohastenthereturn。Butnowitwasaquestionwhetherhehadnotbetterstartatonce，——startsomewhither，andprobablyforamuchlongerperiodthantheusualvacation。Shouldhetakethebullbythehornsanddeclarehispurposeoflivingforthenexttwelvemonthat。well，itdidnotmuchmatterwhere，Dresden，hethought，wasalongwayoff，andwoulddoaswellasanyplace。Thenitoccurredtohimthathiscousin，SirAluredwasintown，andthathehadbetterseehiscousinbeforehecametoanydecision。Theywere，asusual，expectedatWhartonHallthisautumn，andthatarrangementcouldnotbeabandonedwithoutexplanation。
SirAluredWhartonwasabaronet，withahandsomeoldfamilyplaceontheWye，inHertfordshire，whoseforefathershadbeenbaronetssincebaronetswerefirstcreated，andwhoseearlierforefathershadlivedatWhartonHallmuchbeforethattime。Itmaybeimagined，therefore，thatSirAluredwasproudofhisname，ofhisestate，andofhisrank。Butthereweredrawbackstohishappiness。Asregardedhisname，itwastodescendtoanephewwhomhespeciallydisliked，——andwithgoodcause。Astohisestate，delightfulasitwasinmanyrespects，itwashardlysufficienttomaintainhispositionwiththatplentifulhospitalitywhichhewouldhaveloved——andotherpropertyhehadnone。Andastohisrank，hehadalmostbecomeashamedofit，since，——ashewaswonttodeclarewasnowthecase，——everyprosperoustallow-makerthroughoutthecountrywasmadeabaronetasamatterofcourse。Sohelivedathomethroughtheyearwithhiswifeanddaughters，notpretendingtotheluxuryoftheseasonforwhichhismodestthreeorfourthousandayeardidnotsuffice——andsoliving，apartfromallthefrictionofclubs，parliaments，andmixedsociety，hedidveritablybelievethathisdearcountrywasgoingutterlytothedogs。Hewassostaunchinpolitics，thatduringthedoingsofthelastquarterofacentury，——fromtherepealoftheCornLawsdowntotheBallot，——
hehadhonestlydeclaredonesidetobeasbadastheother。
Thushefeltthatallhishappinesswastobedrawnfromthepast。Therewasnothingofjoyorglorytowhichhecouldlookforwardeitheronbehalfofhiscountryorhisfamily。Hisnephew，——andalas，hisheir，——wasaneedyspendthrift，withwhomhewouldholdnocommunication。Thefamilysettlementforhiswifeanddaughterswouldleavethembutpoorlyoff。andthoughhedidstruggletosavesomething，thedutyoflivingasSirAluredWhartonofWhartonHallshouldlivemadethosestrugglesveryineffective。Hewasamelancholy，proud，ignorantman，whocouldnotendureapersonalliberty，andwhothoughttheassertionofsocialequalityonthepartofmenoflowerranktoamounttothetakingofapersonalliberty——whoreadlittleornothing，andthoughtthatheknewthehistoryofhiscountrybecausehewasawarethatCharlesIhadhadhisheadcutoff，andthattheGeorgeshadcomefromHanover。IfCharlesIhadneverhadhadhisheadcutoff，andiftheGeorgeshadnevercomefromHanover，theWhartonswouldnowprobablybegreatpeopleandBritainagreatnation。ButtheEvilOnehadbeenallowedtoprevail，andeverythinghadgoneastray，andSirAlurednowhadnothingofthisworldtoconsolehimbutahazyretrospectofpastglories，andadelightinthebeautyofhisownriver，hisownpark，andhisownhouse。SirAlured，withallhisfoibles，andwithallhisfaults，wasapure-minded，simplegentleman，whocouldnottellalie，whocouldnotdoawrong，andwhowasearnestinhisdesiretomakethosewhoweredependentonhimcomfortable，and，ifpossible，happy。OnceayearhecameuptoLondonforaweek，toseehislawyers，andgetmeasuredforacoat，andgotothedentist。Theseweretheexcuseswhichhegave，butitwasfanciedbysomethathiswigwasthegreatmovingcause。SirAluredandMrWhartonweresecondcousins，andclosefriends。SirAluredtrustedhiscousinaltogetherinallthings，believinghimtobethegreatlegalluminaryofGreatBritain，andMrWhartonreturnedhiscousin’saffection，entertainingsomethingakintoreverenceforthemanwhowastheheadofhisfamily。HedearlylovedSirAlured，——andlovedSirAlured’swifeandtwodaughters。Nevertheless，thesecondweekatWhartonHallbecameverytedioustohim，andthefourth，fifthandsixthweeksfrightfulwithennui。
PerhapsitwaswithsomeunconsciousdreadofthistediumthathemadeasuddensuggestiontoSirAluredinreferencetoDresden。
SirAluredhadcometohimathischambers，andthetwooldmenweresittingtogetherneartheopenwindow。SirAlureddelightedintheprivilegeofsittingthere，whichseemedtoconferuponhimsomethingofaninsightintotheinnerwaysofLondonlifebeyondwhathecouldgetatthehotelorhiswigmaker’s。’GotoDresden——forthewinter！’heexclaimed。
’Notonlyforthewinter。Weshouldgoatonce。’
’NotbeforeyoucometoWharton！’saidtheamazedbaronet。
MrWhartonrepliedinalow，sadvoice，’inthatcaseweshouldnotgodowntoHertfordshireatall。’Thebaronetlookedhurtaswellasunhappy。’Yes，Iknowwhatyouwillsay，andhowkindyouare。’
’Itisn’tkindnessatall。Youalwayscome。Itwouldbebreakingupeverything。’
’Everythinghastobebrokenupsoonerorlater。Onefeelsthatasonegrowsolder。’
’YouandI，Abel，arejustofanage。Whyshouldyoutalktomelikethis？Youarestrongenough，whateverIam。Whyshouldn’tyoucome？Dresden！Ineverheardofsuchathing。Isupposeit’ssomenonsenseofEmily’s。’
ThenMrWhartontoldhiswholestory。’NonsenseofEmily’s！’hebegan。’Yes，itisnonsense，worsethanyouthink。Butshedoesn’twanttogoabroad。’Thefather’splaintneedn’tberepeatedtothereaderasitwastoldtothebaronet。Thoughitwasnecessarythatheshouldexplainhimself，yethetriedtobereticent。SirAluredlistenedinsilence。HelovedhiscousinEmily，andknowingthatshewouldberich，knowingheradvantagesofbirth，andrecognizingherbeauty，hadexpectedthatshewouldmakeamatchcreditabletotheWhartonfamily。ButaPortugueseJew！Amanwhohadneverbeenevenknowntoalludetohisownfather！ForbydegreesMrWhartonhadbeendriventoconfessallthesinsofthelover，thoughhehadendeavouredtoconcealtheextentofhisdaughter’slove。
’DoyoumeanthatEmily——favourshim？’
’Iamafraidso。’
’Andwouldshe，-wouldshe——doanythingwithoutyoursanctions？’
Hewasalwaysthinkingofthedisgraceattachingtohimselfbyreasonofhisnephew’svileness，andnow，ifadaughterofthefamilyshouldalsogoastray，soastobeexiledfromthebosomoftheWhartons，howmanifestwoulditbethatalltheglorywasdepartingfromtheirhouse！
’No！Shewilldonothingwithoutmysanction。Shehasgivenherword，——whichisgospel。’Ashespoketheoldlawyerstruckhishanduponthetable。
’ThenwhyshouldyouruntoDresden？’
’Becausesheisunhappy。Shewillnotmarryhim，-orevenseehimifIforbidit。Butsheisnearhim。’
’Hertfordshireisalongwayoff，’saidthebaronetpleading。
’Changesofscenearewhatsheshouldhave，’saidthefather。
’Therecan’tbemoreofachangethanshewouldgetatWharton。
ShealwaysdidlikeWharton。ItwastherethatshemetArthurFletcher。’ThefatheronlyshookhisheadasArthurFletcher’snamewasmentioned。’Well，——thatissad。Ialwaysthoughtsshe’dgivewayaboutArthuratlast。’
’Itisimpossibletounderstandayoungwoman，’saidthelawyer。
WithsuchanEnglishgentlemanasArthurFletcherononeside，andwithhisPortugueseJewontheother，itwastohimHyperiontoaSatyr。Adarknesshadfallenoverthegirl’seyes，andforatimeherpowerofjudgmenthadlefther。
’ButIdon’tseewhyWhartonshouldnotdojustaswellasDresden，’continuedthebaronet。
MrWhartonfoundhimselfquiteunabletomakehiscousinunderstandthegreaterdisruptioncausedbyaresidenceabroad，thefeelingthatanewkindoflifehadbeenconsiderednecessaryforher，andthatshemustsubmittothenewkindoflife，mightbegraduallyeffective，whilethejourneyingsandsceneswhichhadbeencommontoheryearafteryearwouldhavenoeffect。
Neverthelesshegaveway。TheycouldhardlystarttoGermanyatonce，butthevisittoWhartonmightbeaccelerated。andthedetailsoftheresidenceabroadmighttherebearranged。Itwasfixed，therefore，thatMrWhartonandEmilyshouldgodowntoWhartonHallatanyratebeforetheendofJuly。
’Whydoyougoearlierthanusual，papa？’Emilyaskedhimafterwards。
’BecauseIthinkit’sbest，’herepliedangrily。Sheoughtatanyratetounderstandthereason。
’OfcourseIshallbeready，papa。YouknowthatIalwayslikeWharton。ThereisnoplaceonearthIlikesomuch，andthisyearitwillbeespeciallypleasanttometogooutoftown。
But——’
’Butwhat？’
’Ican’tbeartothinkthatIshallbetakingyouaway。’
’I’vegottobearworsethingsthanthat，mydear。’
’Oh，papa，donotspeaktomelikethat！OfcourseIknowwhatyoumean。Thereisnorealreasonforyourgoing。IfyouwishitIwillpromiseyouIwillneverseehim。’Heonlyshookhishead，——meaningtoimplythatapromisecouldgonofartherthanthatwouldnotmakehimhappy。’Itwillbejustthesame，papa，-eitherhere，oratWharton，orelsewhere。Youneednotbeafraidofme。’
’Iamnotafraidofyou——butIamafraidforyou。Ifearforyourhappiness，——andformyown。’
’SodoI，papa。Butwhatcanbedone？Isupposesometimespeoplemustbeunhappy。Ican’tchangemyselfandIcan’tchangeyou。IfindmyselfasmuchboundtoMrLopezasthoughIwerehiswife。’
’No，no！Youshouldn’tsayso。You’venorighttosayso。’
’ButIhavegivenyouapromise，andIcertainlywillkeepit。
Ifwemustbeunhappy，stillweneednot，——neednotquarrel。
needwe，papa？’Thenshecameuptohimandkissedhim，——
whereuponhewentoutoftheroomwipinghiseyes。
Thateveningheagainspoketoher，sayingmerelyaword。’I
think，mydear，we’llhaveitfixedthatwegoonthe30th。SirAluredseemedtowishit。’
’Verywell，papa——Ishallbequiteready。’
CHAPTER14
ALOVER’SPERSEVERANCE。
FerdinandLopezlearnedimmediatelythroughMrsRobythattheearlydepartureforHertfordshirehadbeenfixed。’Ishouldgotohimandspeaktohimveryplainly，’saidMrsRoby。’Hecan’tbiteyou。’
’I’mnotintheleastafraidofhisbitingme。’
’Youcantalksowell！Ishouldtellhimeverything，especiallyaboutmoney，——whichI’msureisallright。’
’Yes，——thatisallright，’saidLopez，smiling。
’Andaboutyourpeople。’
’Which，I’venodoubtyouthinkisallwrong。’
’Idon’tknowanythingaboutit，’saidMrsRoby，’andIdon’tmuchcare。Hehasold-worldnotions。Atanyrateyoushouldsaysomething，sothatheshouldnotbeabletocomplaintoherthatyouhadkepthiminthedark。Ifthereisanythingtobeknown，it’smuchbettertohaveitknown。’
’Butthereisnothingtobeknown。’
’Thentellhimnothing——butstilltellittohim。Afterthatyoumusttrusttoher。Idon’tsupposeshe’dgooffwithyou。’
’I’msureshewouldn’t。’
’Butshe’sasobstinateasamule。She’llgetthebetterofhimifyoureallymeanit。’Heassuredherthathereallydidmeanit，anddeterminedthathewouldtakeheradviceastoseeing，orendeavouringtosee，MrWhartononceagain。Butbeforedoingsohethoughtittobeexpedienttoputhishouseinorder，sothathemightbeabletomakeastatementofhisaffairsifaskedtodoso。Whethertheywereflourishingorthereverse，itmightbenecessarythatheshouldhavetospeakofthem，——with，atanyrate，apparentcandour。
Thereadermay，perhaps，rememberthatinthemonthofAprilFerdinandLopezhadmanagedtoextractacertainsignaturefromhisunfortunatecityfriend，SextyParker，whichmadethatgentlemanresponsibleforthepaymentofaconsiderablesumofmoneybeforetheendofJuly。ThetransactionhadbeenoneofunmixedpainfulnaturetoMrParker。Assoonashecametothinkofit，afterLopezhadlefthim，hecouldnotprevailuponhimselftoforgivehimselfforhisfolly。Thathe，——he，SextusParker，——shouldhavebeeninducedbyafewemptywordstogivehisnameforsevenhundredandfiftypoundswithoutanyconsiderationorpossibilityofbenefit！Andthemorehethoughtofitthemoresurehewasthatthemoneywaslost。Thenextdayheconfirmedhisownfears，andbeforeaweekwasgonehehadwrittendownthesumasgone。Hetoldnobody。Hedidnotliketoconfesshisfolly。Buthemadesomeinquiryabouthisfriend，——whichwasabsolutelyfutile。Noonethatheknewseemedtoknowanythingoftheman’saffairs。Buthesawhisfriendfromtimetotimeinthecity，shiningasonlysuccessfulmendoshine，andheheardofhimasonewhosenamewasbecomingknowninthecity。Stillhesufferedgrievously。Hismoneywassurelygone。Amandoesnotflyakiteinthatfashiontillthingswithhimhavereachedabadpass。
SoitwaswithMrParkerallthroughMayandtotheendofJune，theloadevergrowingheavierandheavierasthetimebecamenearer。Then，whilehewasstillafflictedwithaheavinessofspiritswhichhadneverlefthimsincethatfatalday，whobutFerdinandLopezshouldwalkintohisoffice，wearingthegayestsmileandwithahatsplendidashatsaresplendidonlyinthecity。Andnothingcouldbemore’jolly’thanhisfriend’smanner，——somuchsothatSextywasalmostliftedupintotemporaryjollityhimself。Lopez，seatinghimselfalmostatoncebegantodescribeacertainspeculationintowhichhewasgoingratherdeeply，andastowhichheinvitedhisfriendParker’sco-
operation。Hewasintending，evidently，nottoask，buttoconferafavour。
’Iratherthinkthatsteadybusinessisbest，’saidParker。’I
hopeit’sallrightaboutthe750pounds。’